Crossbow - Black Ops 2 Weapon Guide

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This time, we're covering the Crossbow.

Perhaps the most highly strung of the secondary options, the Crossbow returns from Black Ops with a more modern look, and a 3-round mag - and is unlocked at level 25.

The Crossbow is an ancient weapon that dates to around the 5th Century BC.

The earliest examples stem from archaeological findings in China, although the precise origin of the weapon is not known.

The Crossbow's introduction to Europe was through the Greek 'gastraphetes' - a handheld wooden weapon that bears a close resemblance to its modern equivalent.

By the middle ages, the crossbow was a common sight on the battlefield, capable of imparting greater kinetic energy than a longbow, and remaining effective in the hands of an untrained soldier.

In modern times, crossbows still see limited use in specialised roles - with their ability to launch unconventional payloads, and the relatively quiet report of a launched bolt.

In-game, damage is rather unconventional: the crossbow's bolts deal minor damage upon impact, and after a few seconds will explode, dealing a lethal blow to any unfortunate souls they might be embedded in.

Impact damage is 40 units, meaning you'll need three such strikes to kill an uninjured opponent, although you might see some hurt foes succumb to a single stick.

Explosive damage is high, even sufficient to kill an opponent with Flak Jacket - but the blast radius is miniscule, meaning it's unlikely you'll kill anyone not directly stuck with a bolt.

Ranged performance is surprisingly good, as long as you accommodate for the parabolic trajectory and travel time of the bolt: aim above and ahead of a distant opponent, and the graceful arc of a successful stick will be your reward.

Of course, such shots are tricky - but with practice you'll be able to reliably hit stationary enemies at any distance.

It's also worth noting that despite the stealthy connotations of a real-life crossbow, the Black Ops 2 rendition does not behave as a suppressed weapon - you will appear on radar when firing.

Rate of fire is slow - at just 52 rounds per minute, it's important to make each bolt count.

The time spent resetting for the next shot is best spent tracking your bolt's terminal point - so you can better adjust your aim and score a hit with the next one if needs be.

Hipfire performance is generally poor - although spread is average, the slow rate of fire and fuse delay means that if you're forced to resort to hipfire with the crossbow, your outlook may be bleak.

Handling is generally OK - recoil isn't a factor in your accuracy, for one.

Aim time is as quick as an assault rifle, at 250 milliseconds - and switch times are quick enough for the Crossbow to be useful as a situational secondary.

While equipped, you'll move 100 percent of the maximum base speed.

Unlike its previous incarnation, the Crossbow in Black Ops 2 now has a magazine to draw bolts from - although capacity is limited, at just 3 bolts between reloads.

Reloads are relatively slow, at 2.85 seconds to complete - but given the limited starting supply of the crossbow, you won't have the opportunity to perform too many reloads, unless you're able to resupply.

This is one good reason to limit engagements with the Crossbow to longer distances only - at a close range, your enemy will find it easier to kill you in their last couple of seconds, leaving you with naught but an Afterlife medal and snuffed scorestreak.

Your ideal quarry is an unaware sniper over a mid-to-long sightline: such an opponent's stationary nature will make it much easier to land a successful stick at a distance.

With static targets you don't need to lead your shots to compensate for any lateral motion - all you need concern yourself with is the projectile drop, so aim higher the further you are from the target.

The Crossbow is an interesting and unique weapon, and while it fits in with few conventional loadouts it does provide a challenging and rewarding way to play.

Successfully sticking an opponent will yield a reliable kill - while a team-mate might pilfer your victim betwixt stick and detonation, the enemy's fate is otherwise sealed.

The Crossbow is perhaps one of the few secondaries that performs well at a longer range, too - meaning that it can be a good complement to a shotgun, in order to extend your reach.

However, the Crossbow is a weapon heavily dependent on accuracy - and one that does not fare very well under primary usage.

The limited ammunition supply is a major downside, hindering your ability to spam a large volume of explosives towards a target, and instead requiring that you regularly scavenge a supply.

Still, the Crossbow resides within the secondary selection for a reason - and it is a situational weapon that fills a role like none other.